Androgen-Deprivation Therapy With or Without Chemotherapy
Prostate cancer patients who received ADT plus KA/VE experienced greater toxicity and nonsignificantly longer survival than did those who received ADT alone.
Clopidogrel Before Bypass Surgery — What Are the Risks?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Among patients who undergo CABG after ACS, those who receive clopidogrel within 5 days are at higher risk for major bleeding.
Vitamin Supplementation and Prostate Cancer
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Two studies provided no evidence of lower risk with supplementation of vitamins C and E or selenium.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
January 15, 2009
Covering:
Lippman SM et al., JAMA 2009 Jan 7; 301:39
Gaziano JM et al., JAMA 2009 Jan 7; 301:52
Gann PH., JAMA 2009 Jan 7; 301:102
Antioxidant Vitamins and Cancer Prevention in Women
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Once again, antioxidants did not prevent cancer or cancer-related deaths.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 15, 2009
Covering:
Lin J et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2009 Jan 7; 101:14
Adjusting Warfarin When INR Isn’t in Therapeutic Range
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Data suggest that warfarin dose shouldn’t be changed unless INR is
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 15, 2009
Covering:
Rose AJ et al., J Thromb Haemost 2009 Jan; 7:94
Exercise Benefits Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Beneficial, but modest, effects were noted for both treadmill walking and lower-extremity resistance exercising.
Medication and Supplement Use by Older Americans
General Medicine Summary and Comment
One in 25 was at risk for a major drug–drug interaction.
Revascularization of Unprotected Left Main Lesions in Octogenarians
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Two-year results of a case-series study suggest that PCI might be a viable alternative to CABG, but only in carefully selected patients.
By Howard C. Herrmann, MD
January 14, 2009
Covering:
Rodés-Cabau J et al., Circulation 2008 Dec 2; 118:2374
Shemin RJ., Circulation 2008 Dec 2; 118:2326
Fever and Infection in Older Adult Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities
Infectious Diseases Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
This report will help clinicians to understand the unique infectious disease risks among these individuals and the limitations of assessment.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
January 14, 2009
Covering:
High KP et al., Clin Infect Dis 2009 Jan 15; 48:149
Are UTIs Overdiagnosed in Older Patients?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Older patients commonly are treated with antibiotics for presumed UTIs, even when little support exists for the diagnosis.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 13, 2009
Covering:
Woodford HJ and George J., J Am Geriatr Soc 2009 Jan; 57:107
Change in Ankle-Brachial Index Predicts Adverse Cardiovascular Outcome
General Medicine Summary and Comment
But is routine screening the way to go?
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
January 13, 2009
Covering:
Criqui MH et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Nov 18; 52:1736
Hiatt WR., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Nov 18; 52:1743
Outcomes Among Patients with Mental Illness and Heart Failure
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An analysis of Medicare data has worrisome news.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 12, 2009
Covering:
Rathore SS et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008 Dec; 65:1402
Geriatric Depression: Recurrences Are Common
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
They’re more common than first episodes.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 12, 2009
Covering:
Luijendijk HJ et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008 Dec; 65:1394
Past Depression and Current Poor Sleep? Watch Out for Depression Recurrence
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In previously depressed older patients, sleep disturbances independently predict future depressive episodes.
By Joel Yager, MD
January 12, 2009
Covering:
Cho HJ et al., Am J Psychiatry 2008 Dec; 165:1543
Antibiotics to Prevent COPD Exacerbations?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a small study, erythromycin recipients had fewer and shorter exacerbations than did placebo recipients.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
January 8, 2009
Covering:
Seemungal TAR et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008 Dec 1; 178:1139
Kunisaki KM and Niewoehner DE., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008 Dec 1; 178:1098
Rosiglitazone vs. Pioglitazone: A Comparison of Cardiovascular Outcomes
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Results of a large observational study provide more evidence that rosiglitazone increases cardiovascular risk.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
January 7, 2009
Covering:
Winkelmayer WC et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Nov 24; 168:2368
Nathan DM et al., Diabetes Care 2009 Jan; 32:193
New Approach to Prevention of Osteoporotic Fractures
Clinical calculators can help clinicians determine when patients should start receiving osteoporosis therapy.
New USPSTF Cancer Screening Guidelines: Less Is More
Two new guidelines from the USPSTF deserve note this year, not because they recommend screening for cancer, but because they recommend limits on screening.
HYVET Shows Benefits for Treating Hypertension in Healthy Very Old Patients
But, how this finding applies to typical patients outside of studies is unclear.
Preventing Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
In younger patients with newly diagnosed diabetes, intensive glucose-lowering therapy appears to prevent macrovascular events; in patients with established diabetes, the jury is still out.
Bereavement-Related Depression Is Not Grief
Grief is not an illness, but psychiatric illness can occur with bereavement.
Short Sleep Duration as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Events
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Sleeping less than 7.5 hours nightly and having nighttime rises in SBP were associated with excess cardiovascular risk in older patients with hypertension.
Loss and Recovery of Functional Status in Acutely Ill Older Patients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Loss of ability to perform activities of daily living during acute illness portends substantial 1-year morbidity and mortality in older patients.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
December 24, 2008
Covering:
Boyd CM et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2008 Dec; 56:2171
Can We Predict Who Will Develop Alzheimer Disease?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A five-factor algorithm had a high predictive value.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
December 22, 2008
Covering:
Devanand DP et al., Biol Psychiatry 2008 Nov 15; 64:871
Does Lithium Protect Against Dementia?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Long-term use of lithium might protect against the increased risk found for dementia in bipolar disorder.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
December 22, 2008
Covering:
Kessing LV et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008 Nov; 65:1331
